@mtrot
In the case where you don't have the receipt for a piece of gear you simply estimate it's original value. In 99.999% of the cases you lose money on the transaction.
This whole thing will only be an issue if you get audited. You will report no income from your audio sales on your 1040 and the only way the IRS would challenge that is if they audit you - and even then they wouldn't waste time worrying about a piece or two of stereo gear.
The only time a regular taxpayer who's not claiming bizarre deductions (under $200k income) gets an audit is if they win the IRS lottery and get a TCMP (Taxpayer Compliance Measurement Program) audit that goes through your return line by line. Most people go through their lifetime without ever getting an IRS audit. That means that the IRS takes your word for it when you file a tax return. It really is the honor system. If you claim that you received no income from selling your stereo gear then that is what the government will base your taxes on. You do not have to supply supporting documentation with your tax return.
Also, most people don't realize that the IRS us understaffed and they don't have the time to worry about nickels and dimes from regular taxpayers. Their decisions, virtually all the time, are based on common sense. If you inherited a 1970's vintage Marantz 2325 receiver that you sold for $1500 and have no receipt the auditor isn't going to waste time trying to research what it originally cost. The other interesting thing about inheritance is that you don't pay taxes on what you inherit - so there's no issue with that anyway.
In other words, don't get wrapped around the axle worrying about the tax implications of being an audiophile.
In the case where you don't have the receipt for a piece of gear you simply estimate it's original value. In 99.999% of the cases you lose money on the transaction.
This whole thing will only be an issue if you get audited. You will report no income from your audio sales on your 1040 and the only way the IRS would challenge that is if they audit you - and even then they wouldn't waste time worrying about a piece or two of stereo gear.
The only time a regular taxpayer who's not claiming bizarre deductions (under $200k income) gets an audit is if they win the IRS lottery and get a TCMP (Taxpayer Compliance Measurement Program) audit that goes through your return line by line. Most people go through their lifetime without ever getting an IRS audit. That means that the IRS takes your word for it when you file a tax return. It really is the honor system. If you claim that you received no income from selling your stereo gear then that is what the government will base your taxes on. You do not have to supply supporting documentation with your tax return.
Also, most people don't realize that the IRS us understaffed and they don't have the time to worry about nickels and dimes from regular taxpayers. Their decisions, virtually all the time, are based on common sense. If you inherited a 1970's vintage Marantz 2325 receiver that you sold for $1500 and have no receipt the auditor isn't going to waste time trying to research what it originally cost. The other interesting thing about inheritance is that you don't pay taxes on what you inherit - so there's no issue with that anyway.
In other words, don't get wrapped around the axle worrying about the tax implications of being an audiophile.